Maurice w



(No Model.)

M. W. WHITE.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. No. 898,107. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

Witnesses. Inventor:-

.fwl

N PETERS. PhMu-Lilhcgnpher, washm kcn, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

TO GEORGE IV. ROSS, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent To. 398,107, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed July 9, 1888. Serial No. 279,434. (No model.)

f (6 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAURICE NV. IVHITE, of 4 Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massa-.

chusetts, have invented an Improvement in l 5 Bridges for Stringed Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like letters on the drawings representinglike l part-s.

This invention has for its object to 0011- struct a bridge for stringed instruments, i

whereby one end of the bridge may vibrate more freely than the opposite end or may. rock upon said opposite end.

Bridges now commonly made are fitted to I the instrument one of the feet bearing di-: rectly over the base-bar, and the strings are drawn taut over the bridge. As the bridge is I cut, the tension upon it is different for each string.

In order to improve and enrich the quality of tone, it has been found in practice that the tension on the bridge above the base-bar should be lessened as a string vibrates to en able the base-bar the more freely to vibrate,

while the tension upon the opposite end of the bridge, or that en d nearest the soundingpost, should be increased, as the sounding-post serves as a pivot. To practically carry out the object above stated, I have cut or so formed the bridge as to present three bars connected together, so

that when the strings are drawn taut and set in vibration they act as a set of compound 3 5 levers, as will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 shows afront face view of a bridge embodying this invent-ion, a sectional view of l the face-plate and base bar being also shown; I Fig. 2, a view showing the bridge shown in l Fig. 1 separated to show the independent I bars; and Fig. 3, a modification to be referred to. l

The bridge is cut, sawed, or formed to present feet a a and the bars I) 0 cl. The bars I) and c are joined at one end by the part b,

and near but at one side of the middle by the j waist Z1 The bars 0 and d are joined at one I end by the part c, and near but at one side of the middle by the waist 0 The foot a 5o bears upon the face of the instrument directly i l tion of the bridge shown in above the base-bar f, while the opposite foot, as a, bears upon the face near the soundingpost.

The heaviest string is drawn taut over the bridge at 2, or at a point over the base-bar f, and the lighter strings rest upon the bridge at points toward the right, as at 3, 4, and 5.

\Vhen the string at 5 is set in vibration, the bar (1 is vibrated or rocked on the. waist c and the bar 0 is vibrated or rocked on the waist b the tendency being to lift the bar Z) at the point I), or directly over the base-bar, thereby permitting the base-bar to vibrate more freely, the entire bridge rocking on the foot a.

When the string at l is set in vibration, the result is substantially the same as above set forth, it being aided by the continuous tension of the string at 5.

hen the string at 3 tension comes almost directly upon the waist 0 but it is aided by the continuous tension of the strings 4 and 5, which completelyoverbalance the continuous tension of the string at 2, and hence the result above set forth fol- 7 5 lows.

It will be observed that as the bars vibrate or rock they act as a set of compound levers, the tendency of which is to lift the foot a, or to relieve as much as possible its tension on So the base-bar. The bars 0 d, or equivalents, and the connecting parts and waist form the crown portion of the bridge.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modifica- Figs. 1 and 2, the opening formed just above the lowest bar being diminished in size and having an additional slit.

I claim- 1. A bridge for stringed instruments, formed 0 to present three horizontally-arranged bars, 6 e (Z, connecting parts I) c, and the waists 5 o to act as a set of compound levers, substantially as described.

2. A bridge for stringed instruments, formed 9 5 to present the bar 7), having feet a a, the bar 0, the part b, and waist 0 said bars being arranged substantially horizontal and the waists being slightly offset from the middle,

is set in vibration the 7o thereby leaving one end of the bar (Z and the opposite end of the bar 0 free, substantially In testimony \vhereoflhave signed inymtnie 10 as and for the purposes set forth. to this specification in the presence of two 3. A bridge for stringedinstruments, formed subscribing witnesses. to present the horizontal bar I), having feet a 5 a, the foot ct resting directly above the basebar and a crown portion, the connecting part b, and Waist 0 as described, whereby the en- MAURICE \V. \YIHTE.

Witnesses:

tire bridge may vibrate or rock on the foot BERNICE J. NOYEs, ct, substantially as described.

F. L. EMERY. 

